On Thu, Jan 5, 2012 at 6:17 PM, Jonathan Wakely <jwakely....@gmail.com> wrote: > Ping. > > I think this is a useful improvement to the docs and could prevent the > most commonly-encountered bootstrap failure for inexpert users > building GCC. > > OK for trunk? > > > On 30 December 2011 13:29, Jonathan Wakely wrote: > On 22 December 2011 00:23, Jonathan Wakely wrote: >> The most frequently asked question on gcc-help, and a frequently >> reported "bug" in bugzilla, is >> http://gcc.gnu.org/wiki/FAQ#configure_suffix >> >> It is almost always caused by installing libgmp.so etc. in a >> non-standard location and not using ldconfig, DT_RUNPATH, >> $LD_LIBRARY_PATH or some other method to tell the dynamic linker how >> to find them. The current installation docs mention --with-gmp right >> away, which probably gives the impression that it's the recommended >> method, whereas it actually causes problems for the majority of users >> who don't understand dynamic linker search paths. I think rewording >> the installation docs to suggest building the support libs as part of >> GCC first, and only using --with-gmp second, might steer people in the >> right direction. >> >> Separately, I also plan to write an "Installing GCC" page on the GCC >> wiki which (among other things) discourages installing the support >> libraries by hand, recommending installing prebuilt packages in >> standard system dirs instead, or if that's not an option then using >> contrib/download_prerequisites to get the sources and build them >> in-tree. >> >> >> * doc/install.text (Prerequisites): Suggest building GMP, MPFR and >> MPC as part of GCC before describing configuring with --with-gmp etc. >> >> Tested by running "make doc" and viewing the resulting .info pages, OK >> for trunk? > > Here's an updated patch which also adjusts the --with-gmp docs in the > Configuration chapter to mention the option of putting the support lib > sources under the GCC sources > > * doc/install.texi (Prerequisites): Suggest building GMP, MPFR and > MPC as part of GCC before describing configuring with --with-gmp etc. > (Installing GCC: Configuration): State that --with-gmp etc. aren't > needed if sources are present. > > OK for trunk?
My 2c - I heartily recommend this patch. May I suggest updating /cvs/gcc/wwwdocs/htdocs/install/prerequisites.html (or wherever it lives) with the same wording, since it is a frequent landing page for people hunting for GCC building/installing information? And perhaps add a page to the twiki http://gcc.gnu.org/wiki/BuildingGCC to catch google searches for "building gcc"? -- Quentin
